St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-04-30


act, or shall aid or abet therein, shall be
deemed guilty of nisdemeanor, and
shall. upon conviction thereof i'll any DIS
trict court of the United States within the
jurisdiction of which such otfense was
committed, be subject to fine or not 10
exceed five thousand dollars for each
otfense.
Interstate Commerce Commfssion-How
Constituted.
Sec. II. That a commission is hereby
created and established to be known as
the Interstate Commerce commission,
which shall be composed of five commits
siouers. who shall be appointed by the
president, by and with the advice and
consent of the senate. The commissioners
first appointed under this act shall con-
tinue in office for the term of two three,
four, five and six years, respectively, from
the first day of January, ammo domlm
eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, the
term of each to be designated by the
presidents but their successors shall be
appointed for terms of six years, except
that any persons chosen to fill a vacancy
shall be appointed only for the unexplred
term of the commissioner whom he shall
succeed Any commissioner may be re-
moved by the president for inefficiency,
neglect of duty, or malfeasance i'll office
Not more than three of the commissioners
shall be appointed from the same political
party No person in the employ of or
holding any official relation to any COM
mon carrier subject to the provisions or
this act, or owning stock or bonds there
of. or who is in any manner pecunlarlly
interested therein, shall enter upon the
duties of or hold such office. Said com
missioners shall not engage in any other
| business, vocation or employment. NO
| vacancy in the commission shall impair
| the right of the remaining commissioners
to exercise all the powers of the COM
mission.
Powers of the Commission.
Sec. -. That the commission hereby
created shall have authority to inquire
into the management Of the business of
all common carriers subject to the pro
visions of this act, and shall keep itself
| Informed as to the manner and method IN
which the same is conducted, and shall
have the right to obtain from such COM
mon carriers full and complete informa-
ton necessary to enable the commission
to perform the duties and carry out the
objects for which il was created, and for
!
shall have power to require the attendance
and testimony of witnesses and the pro
duction of all books, papers, tariffs, con-
tracts, agreements and documents relat-
ing to any matter under investigation, and
to that end may invoke the aid of any
court of the United States i'll requiring the
attendance and testimony of witnesses and
the production of books, papers and dOcu
! bn nf
Refusal to Testify Before Commission
And any of the circuit courts of the
| United States within the jurisdiction OF
| which such inquiry is carried on may, il
case of contumacy or refusal to obe- .
subpoena issued to any common carrier
subject to the provisions of this act, o.
other person. issue an order requiring
such common carrier or other person tt
appear before said commission and pro
duce books and papers if so ordereD ane
| give evidence touching the matter in ques
ton; and any failure to obey such order
of the court may be punished by sucf
court as contempt thereof. The claim
that any such testimony or evidence may
tend to criminate the person giving sucf
evidence shall not excuse such Wltnes!
from testifying; but such evidence or ties
timony shall not be used against such per
son on the trial of any criminal proceed
ing.
Complaints to OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
by Common Carrier.
Sec. 10. That any person, firm, corpora
ton or association, or any mercantile
agricultural or manufacturing society, O.
any body polite or municipal organiza
ton complaining of anything done o
omitted to be done by any common carrie
subject to the provisions Of this act il
contravention of the provisions thereof
may apply to said commission by petition
which shall briefly state the facts; where
upon a statement of the charges thu
made shall be forwarded by the commits
sion to such common carrier, who shal
be called upon to satisfy the complaint o
to answer the same in writing within
reasonable time, to be specified by tn
commission. If such common carrier
within the time specified, shall make repa
ration for the injury alleged to have bee
done, said carrier shall be relieved OF Liza
bility to the complainant only for the par
ticular violation of law thus compliance
of. If such carrier shall not satisfy Tn
complaint within the time specified, O
there shall appear to be any REASONABLE
ground for investigating said complaint
it shall be the duty of the commission t
investigate the matters complained OF
such manner and by such meansas
shall deem proper.
Investigation by Commission.
Said commission shall in like name
investigate any complaint forwarded b
the railroad commissioner or railroa
commission of any state or territory q
the request of such commissioner or con
mission, and may institute any inquir
on its own motion in the same manne
and to the same effect as though CON
plant had been made.
No complaint shall at any time be dis
missed because of the absence of diret
damage to the complainant.
Findings of Commission Prima Faci
| Evidence.
Sec. ID. That whenever an investlgs
ton shall be made by said commission